Folding partitions



JUIN? 10, '1.969 c. w. EDGERToN, JR 3,448,786

FOLDING PARTITIQNS Sheet of 3 Filed Nov. l, 1966 iNvENroR; C. WI LLIS EDGERTONJR BY /fwm/p llllrl 'DJne 10, 1969 c. w. EDGERTQN, JR

FOLDING PARTITIONS sheet of 3 Filed Nov. 1, -1966 @fswiaw INVENTOR: C. WILLIS EDGERTO BY ATTYS.

June 10, 1969 c. w. EDGERTON, JR 3,448,786

FOLDING PARTITIONS Filed Nov. 1, 196s sheet 3 of s INVENTORZ c. wrLLls EDGERTON,JR.

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United States Patent O 3,448,786 FGLDING PARTITIONS Charles Willis Edgerton, Jr., Bryn Mawr, Pa., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Brunswick Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 591,280 Int. Cl. E05d 15/26 U.S. Cl. 160-199 12 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A folding partition comprising a series of panels hingedly interconnected and connected at one end to a jamb. The jamb is displaceable between an extended and retracted position and the partition assembly includes means operable automatically upon displacement of the series of panels and displacement of the jamb toward its retracted position to automatically initiate pivotal movement of the panels in the series to permit stacking thereof into face-to-face relationship adjacent the jamb.

The present invention relates to folding partitions and has particular application to folding partitions consisting of a series of panels hingedly interconnected and adapted to be folded or retracted into a stacked arrangement by swinging into face-to-face stacked relationship adjacent a storage wall.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a jamb construction which assists the stacking movement of the partitions as they are displaced toward stacked position, and also insures a proper sealing of the panels when they are in extended position.

When moving the panels of a folding partition from the extended position in which all of the panels are aligned to the stacked position, it is necessary to initiate pivotal movement of the terminal' panel in order to start the stacking movement as the panels are displaced along the plane of the partition. When the partitions are displaced manually, the operator normally starts the pivotal movement of the panels adjacent the storage wall, and after the rst panel is pivoted, the remaining panels follow in pivotal movement by reason of the hinged connections between the adjacent panels.

When the partition is displaced to retracted position by a mechanical actuator, unless the panel adjacent the storage wall is started in its pivotal movement, the actuator may stall and fail to perform its desired function. In order to initiate the pivotal movement with prior folding partition structures, linkages or camming devices have been provided which were responsive to displacement of the series of panels in their plane to eifect angular displacement of the terminal panel. In order to accommodate such planar displacement of the series of panels, the terminal panel was conventionally mounted for telescopic displacement into the storage wall jamb, or the jamb was extended on one side to overlap one surface of the terminal wall panel so as to permit the terminal panel to slide relative to the jamb. Although such an arrangement has proved effective to assist in the stacking operation of the folding partitions, this arrangement has created difficulties in providing a fully eifective seal between the partition and the jamb, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of the partition as a sound and light barrier.

Not only was the seal between the terminal panel and the jamb adversely affected, but also the seal between the panels of the series was adversely affected. In order to be fully effective, the partition should iit tightly between the opposite jambs so that the successive panels in' the series are abutted one against the other with sucient force to effect proper engagement of the successive panels with the sealing strips therebetween. The freedom for 3,448,786 Patented June 10,I 1969 ICC ' alignment of the panels when in their extended position,

inasmuch as the panels were free to assume a slight Y angular position relative to one another rather than assuming a truly aligned position 'wherein all of the panels are strictly coplanar.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides a folding partition structure wherein means is provided to initiate folding pivotal movement of the terminal panels as the partition assembly is displaced from the extended position toward the stacked or retracted position.

More particularly, the present invention provides a partition assembly including a series of panels including a terminal panel in which the panels are pivoted and guided in a track coplanar with the panels in their extended position and wherein the terminal panel is hingedly connected to the jamb structure at the storage wall against which the partition is folded.

More particularly, the present invention provides a folding jamb structure at the storage wall which is hinged- 1y connected to the terminal panel of the partition and which may be folded to a retracted position to accommodate displacement of the panel assembly in the plane of the panels, the jamb being biased toward the unfolded position so as to bias the successive panels of the extended partition toward one another in the plane thereof to insure effective sealing intermediate the successive panels in the partition as well as between the jamb and the terminal panel.

The assembly according to the present invention also provides auxiliary means to automatically assist the folding movement of the terminal panel immediately upon operation of the panel assembly from the fully extended position toward the retracted position, so that when the panel assembly is initially displaced, the planar movement of the assembly initiates pivotal movement of the terminal partition panel into the storage position transverse to the plane of the extended partition.

All of the objects of the invention are more fully set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a folding partition of the type wherein alternate panels are suspended from an overhead track by a pivoted trolley located centrally of the panel, and the intermediate panels are supported by the alternate panels at each side thereof. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a panel assembly in extended position to form the folding partition;

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 showing the partition extended;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2. showing the partition partially stacked against the storage wall;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing the operating elements of the folding jamb of the partition;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the position of the elements after the start of the retraction of the folding partition;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the elements in stacked position;

FIG. 8 is a detached perspective view of the Structural elements of the folding jamb; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, a folding partition extends between Walls 10 and 11 and may be retracted from the free wall 11 and folded against the storage wall 10. The folding partition comprises a series of panels indicated in the drawing by the reference characters 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 12-9, and 12-10. The panels :are hinged together, for example as indicated at 13-2 through 13-10 so that the panels may be folded from the extended position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the panels are arranged in an aligned series coplanar along a centerline 50 into a stacked position as shown in FIG. 3 in which the panels are disposed in face-confronting relation transverse to the plane of the extended partition. To accommodate the folding of the panels, the even-numbered hinges are positioned on the near face of the panels whereas the odd-numbered hinges are positioned on the far face of the panels, as indicated in FIGS. l and 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the panels are suspended from an overhead track 15 extending along the centerline 50 .and coextensive with the partition in the extended position. To afford freedom for folding into the stacked or retracted position, only the alternate panels, in the present instance the even-numbered panels, are supported in the track, for example by trolley assemblies 16 positioned centrally of the even-numbered panels and projecting upwardly into the tnack 15. The panels are free to pivot on the trolley assembly from along the centerline 50 to a position transverse thereto. The intermediate panels, in the present instance the odd-numbered panels, are supported by the alternate (even-numbered) panels at opposite sides thereof. Thus, `as indicated in FIG. 3, the panels remain aligned in coplanar relationship until they are retracted to a position adjacent the storage wall 10.

The track 1S is enclosed in a housing 17 extending between the walls 10 and 11 and the housing is provided with guide runners 18 depending downwardly therefrom to overlap the tops of the panels and maintain them in alignment. As shown in FIGS. l and 2, the guide runners 18 terminate short of the storage wall 10 to allow for the `pivotal movement of the panels as they approach the storage wall, the near guide runner terminating at a greater distance from the wall 10 than the far guide runner. A suitable power unit may be mounted in the housing 17 adjacent the storage wall 10 at 19 having connections (not shown) to the free panel 12-10 so las to exert a retracting and extending force upon the panel assembly along the centerline 50 for power operation of the folding partition.

To provide an effective sound and light barrier, suitable sealing strips Iare provided intermediate the panels 12 and the housing 17 at the top of the panels; between the panels 12 and the oor at the bottom of the panel; between the interconnected panels; between the leading panel, in the present instance panel 12-10 and a jamb 22 on the free wall 11; and between the terminal panel 12-1 and a jamb 23 on the storage wall 10. To be most effective, the seals between the panels in the series should 'be tight and it is therefore desirable to construct the panels so that they t tightly when extended between the jambs 22 and 23. The tight fit of the series of panels, while affording an eifective seal throughout the partition, renders it difficult to initiate the retraction and folding of the partition inasmuch as it requires a positive latenal thrust on the terminal panel 12-1 to displace the panels 12-1 and 12-2 out of their aligned relationship.

In accordance with the invention, a novel folding jamb is provided iat 23 to maintain the tight t of the aligned series of panels between the jambs 22 and 23 while affording automatic lateral displacement of the terminal panel 12-1 upon initiation of the retraction or folding of the partition into the stacked relationship. The jamb 23 comprises a hollow box-like structure having a near side wall 25, a far side wall 26, and an end wall composed of two parts 27 and 28 rigidly connected to the respective side w-alls and 26. Both side walls 25 and 26 are hinged to a support member 30 on the storage wall 10, as indicated at 31 and 32, respectively. The hinge 31 permits the near wall to swing outwardly from the jamb to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The hinge 32, on the other side of the support strip 30 permits the wall 26 to pivot inwardly in the same direction as the wall 25. The two side walls and their attached end wall portions, are' interconnected by links 34 pivoted to the side wall 25 `by ears 35 and pivoted to the side wall 26 through struts 36 (see FIG. 8). Thus, the side walls 25 and 26 are free to pivot concurrently clockwise from the extended position shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 to the folded or retracted position shown in FIG. 7.

Means is provided to bias the jamb structure to the extended Iposition shown in FIG. 5, and preferably this bias is removed when the jamb is in the folded position of FIG. 7. To this end, a spring is provided to bias the jamb 23 to the extended position, the spring being mounted to pass over-center as the jamb is folded so that it also serves to bias the jamb into the folded or retracted position after the spring passes over its center. To accomplish this, as shown in FIGS. 5 through 8, inclusive, the `spring 38 is seated at one end against a trunnion 39 in lugs 40 on the strut 36 and is seated at the other end against a trunnion 41 pivoted in a yoke 42. To insure proper seating of the spring, retaining pins 43 and 44 respectively, are provided on the trunnions 39 and 41 as shown. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, it is apparent that the spring 38, being under compression, biases the side wall 26 to its extended position shown. In order to fold the wall 26 clockwise on the hinge 32, the folding movement must overcome the bias of the spring 38 until the trunnion 39 passes the centerline between the hinge 32 :and the trunnion 41 at the center position of the spring assembly. After passing this center position (see FIG. 6), the compression of the spring operates to pivot the wall 26 to its folded or retracted limit position shown in FIG. 7.

In order for the folding jamb 23 to assist in the folding movement of the terminal panel 12-1, the panel is hinged to the end wall 28 by means of a filler strip 45 and a hinge 1,3-1. The filler strip 45 is positioned on the centerline 50 of the partition structure centrally of the jamb 23 adjacent the free edge of the end wall section 2S. Thus, when the jamb is displaced toward its folded position, the filler strip 45 is carried by the folding wall 26 inwardly from the centerline 50. The swinging of the strip 45 about the pivot provided by the hinge 32 causes the hinge 13-1 to swing downwardly as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, thereby displacing the terminal panel 12-1 out of alignment with the centerline 50. With reference to FIG. 2, it will be apparent that the inward movement of the left hand end of the panel 12-1 will cause the panel to pivot counterclockwise on the hinge 13-2, thereby initiating pivotal movement of the panel assembly.

In operation, the folding movement of the jamb 23 .is effected by displacing the panel assembly along its centerline 50, for example toward the left as shown in FIG. 2. The displacement of the panel assembly exerts a force on the filler strip 45 which is likewise along the centerline of the panel assembly and jamb. Since the hinge 32 is otfset from the centerline, the force along the centerline provides a turning moment causing the side wall 26 and its associated parts to pivot clockwise of fold inwardly about the hinge 32. The inward folding movement of the wall 23, through the link 34, folds the near wall 25 outwardly as shown in FIG. 6. As the folding jamb 23 passes overcenter, the spring 38 assists the further folding movement of the jamb 23 until the jamb reaches its folded limit position, as shown in FIG. 7.

Further longitudinal displacement of the panel assembly along its centerline 50 effects successive folding movement of the panels. With reference to FIG. 2, it is apparent that when the terminal panel 12-1 is initiated in its pivotal movement, and seats at its limit position offset downwardly from the centerline 50, further displacement of the panel 12-2 to the left will cause the hinge 13-2 to swing upwardly about the pivot provided by the hinge 13-1. The upward swinging movement of the hinge 13-2 pivots the panel 12-2 clockwise on its trolley assembly 16.

Since the trolley assembly 16 limits the displacement of the panel 12-2 to pivotal movement on its center and longitudinal movement along the centerline 50, pivotal movement of the panel 12-2 causes the hinge 13-3 to swi-ng downwardly out of the plane of the centerline 50', thereby initiating pivotal movement of the panel 12-3. The panel 12-3 lwill then pivot on the hinge 13-4 which is displaced to the left along the centerline 50 as the panel assembly is retracted. When the panel 12-2 seats in faceto-face abutting relation with the panel 12-1, as shown in FIG. 3, the panel 12-3 will continue its pivotal counterclockwise movement, displacing the hinge 13-4 upwardly out of the plane of the centerline 50'. When the hinge 13-4 is swung out of the plane of the centerline 50, the panel 12-4 is initiated in its clockwise pivotal movement about its trolley assembly 16. In this manner, the folding of the partition continues automatically as a retractive force is exerted on the panel assembly along the centerline 50.

It should be noted that the folding jamb 23 permits the stacked panels to be positioned with less clearance be-Y tween the stack of folded panels and the storage wall than the clearance between the rst hinge and the storage Iwall when the panels and the jamb are extended. If the clearance is critical, the far aside wall 26 may be recessed into the storage wall and the near side wall may be omitted or modied to obtain a substantial reduction in the clearance space, the near side wall serving primarily as a cover strip to provide the desired aesthetic characteristics to the jamb.

In order to assist the initial pivotal movement of the panel 12-2 upon its trolley assembly 16, auxiliary turning means is provided on the underside of the housing 17 at the end of the panel which is connected to the terminal panel 12-1. To this end, a follower roller 52 is mounted on the upper edge of the panel 122, for example by means of a mounting plate 53 having an upstanding pintle 54 thereon. As shown in FIG. 8, the roller is mounted adjacent and offset from the track on the far side of the panel when viewed as in FIG. 1. A stacking cam 55 depends downwardly from the housing 17 to intercept the roller 52 as it is retracted along the track 15. When the roller 52 engages the cam 55, the operating surfacey 56 thereof causes the roller 52 to be deected to the right as shown in FIG. 18, assisting in the clockwise pivotal movement of the panel 12-2 as the panel assembly is retracted. Thus, the stacking cam 55 assists in the displacement of the hinge 13-2 towards the far side of the panel assembly as the assembly is initially retracted.

An extension cam 58 is provided adjacent the cam 5S to assist in aligning the panel 12-2. with the centerline 50 when the panel assembly is extended to form the foldable partition. Upon extension of the panel assembly, the hinged connections at 13-1, 13 2, and 13-3, direct the follower roller 52 into the space between the cams 55 and 58 so that the roller engages the operating face 59 of the extension cam 58 which displaces the roller 52 toward the position shown in FIG. 8 intermediate the track 15 and the extension cam 58. Thus, the auxiliary turning means, comprising the cams 55 and 58 and the roller 52, serves to assist in the proper orientation of the panel 12-2 during both its retraction and its extension. In this way, the partition is assured of being properly folded against the storage wall when the power unit 19 is actuated to retract the partition. In like manner, the auxiliary turning means also assist in aligning the panel 12-2 with the centerline -50 when the partition is extended by the power means into the extended or closed position.

By means of the folding jamb of the present invention, the panel assembly is assured of a tight fit between the jambs 22 and 23. Inasmuch as the spring action of the spring 38 during extension biases the folding jamb to its extended position, the jamb assures that the successive panels bear against one another through the sealing strips therebetween to thereby insure a proper seal between the adjacent panels as well as between the free panel 12-10 and the jamb 22, and the terminal panel 12-1 and the jamb 23. Suitable seals are also provided in the jamb 23 between the sections 27 and 28 of the end wall, and at the hinges 31 and 32.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding partition comprising a track, a series of panels mounted on said track and hingedly interconnected for folding movement between an extended position wherein said panels are in aligned relationship coplanar with the centerline of said track and a stacked position wherein said panels are disposed in face-to-face stacked relationship transverse to said track at the storage end of said track, the improvement wherein said partition includes a folding jamb at said storage end, said jamb including foldable means hingedly interconnected to the terminal panel of said series and foldable between an extended position and a folded position, said means in said extended position disposing said terminal panel coplanar with said track and in the folded position disposing said terminal panel out of the plane of said track whereby, upon folding movement of said means from extended position to folded position, said means displaces said terminal panel -out of the plane of said track to thereby initiate folding movement of said panel assembly, and upon folding movement of said means from said folded position to said extended position, said means displaces said terminal panel into coplanar relationship with said track.

2. A folding partition according to claim 1 including separate hinge means mounting said foldable means of the jamb, said hinge means being parallel to the hinged connection between said foldable means and said terminal panel and offset from the centerline of said track, whereby upon longitudinal displacement of said terminal panel in said track toward said storage end, said terminal panel imparts a turning moment to said foldable means to fold the same on said separate hinge means and effect displacement of said terminal panel out of the plane of said track.

3. A folding partition according to claim 2 including spring means to bias said foldable means toward said extended position.

4. A folding partition according to claim 3 wherein said spring means has `a center position and is constructed and arranged to pass overcenter as said means is folded, said foldable means operating against the bias of the spring means from said extended position to said center position and operating with the bias of said spring means from said center position to said folded position whereby said spring means also biases said foldable means toward said folded position after passage of said foldable means overcenter. of said spring.

l5. A folding partition according to claim 1 including auxiliary turning means cooperable with the succeeding panel of the series which is hingedly connected to Said terminal panel, said turning means operable to displace said succeeding panel out of the plane of said track upon longitudinal displacement of said panel series in said track from extended position toward said storage end.

6. A folding partition according to claim 5 wherein said succeeding panel includes follower means projecting therefrom adjacent said track, said auxiliary turning means including cam surface engageable -with said follower means upon longitudinal displacement of said panel out of said extended position toward said storage end to deflect said succeeding panel out of the plane of said track.

7. A folding partition according to claim 6 including a second cam surface engageable with said follower means upon longitudinal displacement of said panel into its extended position away from said storage end to guide 7 said succeeding panel into aligned relationship coplanar with the centerline of the track.

8. A partition according to claim 1 wherein said jamb comprises near and far side walls normally disposed Substantially parallel to said track and spaced laterally therefrom, one of said side walls constituting said foldable means and adapted to fold inwardly of said jamb to effect said displacement of the terminal panel, the other of said side walls adapted to fold outwardly of said jamb out of the path of movement of said one side wall.

9. A partition according to claim 8 including link means interconnecting said side walls for concurrent folding movement.

10. A partition according to claim 1 wherein said track is an overhead track, selected panels of said series including a central trolley assembly projecting upwardly into engagement with said track to support said series of panels for movement longitudinally of said track, each trolley assembly affording pivotal movement of its associated panel `about its center as well as longitudinal movement in said track, and including a jamb at the other end of said track to abut against the series of panels in the extended position, and spring means biasing said foldable means to the extended position to thereby conne the series of extended panels between said jambs.

11. A folding partition comprising an overhead track, a series of panels mounted on said track and hingedly interconnected for folding movement between an extended position wherein said panels are in aligned relationship coplanar with the center line of said track, and a stacked position wherein said panels are disposed in face-to-face stacked relationship transverse to said track at the storage end of said track; said hinged connections between successive panels being disposed alternately on opposite sides of the centerline of the track; selected panels of said series including a central trolley assembly projecting upwardly into engagement with said track to support said series of panels for movement longitudinally of said track, each trolley assembly affording pivotal movement of its associated panel about its center as well as longitudinal movement in said track; a jamb at said storage end, said jamb including an end wall interconnected to the terminal panel of said series and displaceable between an extended position and a retracted position; an abutment jamb at the other end of said track to abut against the series of panels in the extended position; means operable upon movement of said series of panels from the extended position toward the folded position and upon displacement of said end wall from its extended position to its retracted position to initiate folding movement of said panel assembly by pivotal moveyment of the panels on said trolley assembly; and spring means on said end wall to bias said end wall toward its extended position to thereby conne the series of extended panels between said jambs, said spring means having a center position intermediate the extended and retracted positions of said end wall, and being constructed and arranged to pass overcenter as said end wall is displaced; said end wall -operating against the bias of said spring means in its displacement from said extended position to said center position, and operating with the bias of said spring means from said center position to said retracted position whereby said spring means also biases said end wall toward said retracted position after passage of said element over-center of said spring.

12. A folding position according to claim 11 wherein said means to effect pivoting of said panels includes a cam surface mounted adjacent said track and follower means projecting upwardly from one of said panels and adapted to engage said cam surface upon longitudinal displacement of said series of panels whereby said cam surface displaces said panel out of the plane of said track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,042,084 5/1936 Winn 160--199 2,151,033 3/1939 Jones. 2,408,525 10/ 1946 Miller et al 160-199 X 2,579,910 12/1951 Dixon 160-206 2,929,445 3/1960 HaWS 160-199 X 2,952,312 9/1960 Young et al i60-199 X FOREIGN PATENTS 750,762 6/ 1933 France.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. -206 

